MAGNOLIA - The year of living dangerously continued Saturday for Arkansas Tech, as the Wonder Boys held on for a hard-fought 38-35 victory over Southern Arkansas at Wilkins Stadium in Magnolia.

Tech's much-maligned defense gave up 400-plus yards for the third straight game but once again made plays when it had to, coming up with a crucial fourth-down stop deep in SAU territory with under two minutes to play.

The Muleriders (2-2, 0-2 Gulf South Conference) only had one timeout left when the Wonder Boys took over at the SAU 22, which they quickly burned after a 5-yard run by Tech tailback R.J. Vanhook with just 1:36 to play.

After a 6-yard run by Vanhook on second down gave Tech (3-0, 2-0) a first down at the SAU 11, the Muleriders could only watch helplessly as Wonder Boy quarterback Jason Campbell went to one knee twice to end the game.

The victory was the first for Tech at Wilkins Stadium since 1999. They got it despite a career night by SAU running back D.D. Holyfield, who scored four touchdowns, and he did it in just about every possible manner.

Holyfield carried the ball 14 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a 96-yard touchdown pass - the longest in school history - and returned a kick for another score.

The Muleriders also got 95 rushing yards from backup quarterback Josh SanFilippo, who was subbing for injured starter Damian Melancon. SAU finished with 405 total yards.

But 285 of those yards - and all of SanFilippo's rushing yards - came in the first half, which ended with Tech leading 24-21.

Halftime adjustments seemed to do the trick for Tech, which held SAU to three-and-out on their first second-half possession before marching 81 yards in 11 plays to push the lead to 31-21 on a 1-yard plunge by fullback Chris Johnson.

But SAU wouldn't go away. Twice in the second half the Wonder Boys pushed their lead to 10 points, and twice it was Holyfield who answered. After Johnson's touchdown, Holyfield returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown.

The team exchanged punts before Tech tried to pull away again with a seven-play, 61-yard drive, capped by a 21-yard touchdown strike by Campbell to Patrick Smith.

Holyfield answered on ensuing possession, taking an option pitch 30 yards down the sideline to cut the lead back to single digits, 38-35 with 10:32 remaining in the game.

But neither team was able to mount a strong drive in the final 10 minutes. A 49-yard punt return by Tech tailback Tracey Stiger of Russellville went for naught after Campbell threw his only interception of the game three plays later with 5:33 to go.

SAU returned the favor just four plays later when SanFilippo's fumble on an option play was recovered by Wonder Boy linebacker Zach Hall at the Tech 37.

The Muleriders held Tech to a three-and-out looked to be sitting pretty after wide receiver Torrance Hoye returned the resulting punt all the way to the Tech 30 with just 3:34 on the clock.

But a holding penalty on SAU was quickly followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the lost yardage left the Muleriders with first and 10 at their own 17.

The Tech defense ended SAU's last gasp in just four plays, and the Wonder Boys held on for the victory.

For the first time this season, Tech outgained its opponent, piling up 455 yards against SAU's vaunted defense, which entered the game ranked 9th in the country.

Vanhook finished with 115 yards on 23 carries, his first 100-yard effort of the season. Stiger added 47 yards and touchdown on eight carries and also collected a 20-yard touchdown pass from Campbell in the first quarter.

For the game, Campbell finished 17 of 40 for 291 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His first touchdown pass came on Tech's second drive after Hall recovered a fumble to set the Wonder Boys up at the SAU 15. Campbell found Caldwell from 15 yards out on the next play.

Caldwell finished with six catches for 123 yards.

Also, Tech senior kicker Mark Ewersmann seemed to regain the form that earned him second team All-Conference honors last season. Ewersmann nailed all five of his extra points, and his 38-yard field goal gave Tech the lead for good with just 22 second remaining in the first half.

The Wonder Boys will return home next week to host West Alabama at Buerkle Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.